The Park Theatre has announced plans for its upcoming July – December season, with shows featuring Eastenders’ actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, Miriam Margolyes and Disney’s Camp Rock star Meaghan Martin amongst its casts.
As well as star-studded casts, this newly announced season will feature two world premiere productions, two UK and London premieres as well as both West End and Broadway revivals.
Here’s what’s coming up at the Park Theatre:
Whodunnit [Unrehearsed]
![Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] at Park Theatre](https://res.cloudinary.com/solt/image/upload/q_90,fl_progressive,f_auto,w_700/v1554199834/Whodunnit_Unrehearsed_2x1_y4ozrd.jpg)
15 – 27 July
Opening the season is a part-improvised comedy detective show, where each night a different guest star will join the cast and try and figure out whodunnit. Guest stars will include Gillian Anderson, John Bishop, Jim Broadbent, Simon Callow, Ronan Keating, Damian Lewis, Joanna Lumley, Catherine Tate and Tim Vine.
The best part? The guest stars won’t have seen the script, haven’t done any rehearsals and have no idea of direction. All they’ll have is an earpiece for guidance.
And if that wasn’t enough, the show also features the voices of Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench!
The Time Of Our Lies
30 July – 10 August
The story of acclaimed historian and activist Howard Zinn is retold in The Time Of Our Lies. In the show, you’ll hear personal tales from Howard’s life, from WW2 bomber to post-war activist. The show will also feature songs using Howard’s own words, combined with accounts from other soldiers.
The Weatherman
15 August – 14 September
A black-comedy drama with power behind it, The Weatherman has been produced in-house by the Park Theatre team. Written by Eugene O’Hara, it’s the story of two broke flatmates, Beezer and O’Rourke. Living in a dingey London flat, the pair are desperate for cash, and end up becoming a part of their landlord’s dark business scheme in order to make some money.
Mother Of Him
18 September – 26 October
Tracy-Ann Oberman stars in Evan Placey’s Mother Of Him. Based on a true story, Tracy-Ann plays Brenda, a single Jewish mother. Brenda has two sons, one of whom is under house arrest. This powerful and proactive play sees Brenda deal with the consequences of her criminal son, and how it affects her feelings towards him.
Sydney And The Old Girl
31st October – 30 November
Miriam Margolyes will perform in the world premiere of Sydney And The Old Girl. The production explores the relationship, and mutually assured destruction, of a mother and son, who’ve lived in a shabby house together for fifty years.
The Snow Queen
4 December – 4 January
This new adaptation of the classic Hans Christian Andersen story is being created by the same team behind Park Theatre’s Christmas hit last year, Peter Pan.
The final show of 2018 at the Park Theatre, the show follows Gerda as she embarks on an epic adventure through the seasons to save her best friend Cei, before he gets lost to endless Winter.
Park90 Season
The Actor’s Nightmare
16 July – 10 August
Starring Meaghan Martin (Disney’s Camp Rock), this show is a satire on the New York theatre industry. A surreal distortion of classic plays, The Actor’s Nightmare is written by by Tony Award-winning playwright Christopher Durang and has a female-led creative team.
Warheads
15 August – 7 September
Based on a true story, Warheads asks the question: What happens to youth when people are sent to war? The show shares the stories of young British soldiers as they return home from the front line, including nineteen-year-old Miles, who’s returning from his first tour of Afghanistan.
Black Chiffon
18 September – 12 October
This psychological thriller explores what happens when a wealthy 20th-century woman shoplifts. Mrs Alicia Christie has it all, a beautiful home, wonderful husband and devoted children. But how far is she willing to go to protect her family?
The show explores the fallout for one woman, of one crime, and one decision and the consequences that follow.
Fast
15 October – 9 November
Based on an American true story from the 19th century, Fast is a thriller that explores the horrific consequences of ‘Dr’ Linda Hazzard, who advocated a fasting-based miracle cure that captivated and then devastated a nation.
Stray Dogs
13 November – 7 December
Based on true life events, Olivia Olsen’s Stray Dogs is the story of celebrated Russian poet Anna Akhmatova. In the 1940s, Anna was asked to join the Stalinist regime…who had purged her husband and imprisoned her son, who was then waiting to be executed. An extraordinary woman, Anna had to choose between duty to her country, her son, her art and herself.
Martha, Josie And The Chinese Elvis
11 Dec – 4 January
The final show in the Park90 season, this revival of a quirky and kinky comedy is an alternative, adult only, Christmas treat. The production is the story of a dominatrix whose favourite client decides to throw her a birthday party. Hilarious and heartfelt, the show also features an Elvis Presley soundtrack.
As well as these shows, the Park Theatre will also be bringing down a few shows from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for a week of special performances in September.
They will also be offering a new, free membership for young audience members. Park Up will give young people a range of benefits including free professional development workshops, £10 tickets during the first week of performances, £5 rush tickets on selected shows, cafe bar discounts, cheap room hire and more.
For more information on these shows, as well as the Park Up membership, head to the Park Theatre website.